Test paceman Mitchell Starc has claimed his second hat-trick of the match to bowl NSW to a 171-run victory over Western Australia at Sydney’s Hurstville Oval on Tuesday.
The Warriors innings went into freefall after Test aspirant Shaun Marsh was dismissed in the last over before tea for 91.
Chasing 395, WA lost 10-44 to be dismissed for 223 to give NSW a second win from as many Shield matches.
Fellow Test hopeful Hilton Cartwright collected a pair and lasted just 11 balls across the two innings.
Starc was wicketless until he mopped up the Warriors’ tail for the second straight day..
It was the first time in Australia that a first-class cricket a bowler had taken two hat tricks in a game.
Two other Australians, Albert Trott and Jim Matthews, achieved the feat in England.
Trott did it for Middlesex in a county game and Matthews in a Test against South Africa in Manchester in a triangular Test series.
Starc had Jason Behrendorff caught behind and bowled David Moody with the last two balls of his 15th over.
He then had Jonathan Wells caught in the slips by captain Steve Smith with the first ball of his next over, as NSW secured a dramatic win with almost ten overs to spare.
The other wickets were shared and the earlier damage done by Starc’s three Test colleagues, paceman Josh Hazlewood (3-49) and Pat Cummins (2-52) and spinner Nathan Lyon (2-56).
Earlier on Tuesday, Smith posted his 34th first-class century, striking 17 fours and a six to get 127 off 167 balls.
The Blues added 134 in 95 minutes before Smith declared at 6-300.
Smith put on 140 with Kurtis Patterson (66) and 85 with Moises Henriques (45) for the third and fourth wickets respectively.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Not at all. If you think about it, you'd realise that an opening batsman would much rather a two hour wait between the fall of the 3rd and 4th wicket as opposed to a 2 hour wait between the 9th and 10th wicket. If you take as given that there will inevitably be some resistance at some stage and the other side will bat well at some point, better for your mental state of mind it's in the middle rather than the end of the innings.
JoM
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I've seen plenty of him at grade training and indoor nets over the years. He likes getting the batsmen hopping. His girlfriend (now wife) always coped better with his bowling than plenty of the 1st grade guys. My son's first 1st grade game was against Penrith out there and they had to bat first and because it was his first game they put him way down the order. So he is sick with nerves and full of excitement at the same time and its his turn to bat. He walks out there and looks up and who is bowling at him? Pat Cummins. He said he felt like vomiting, but he didn't get out. It was hilarious.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The bane of any tailenders life the return of the speedsters but the likes of Starc? Terrifying..
JoM
Roar Rookie
I would suggest that seeing it was getting towards the end of the game they were more than happy to see Starc smash through the tail. Do they want to win or do they want the draw. I would also suggest that any batsman looking up and seeing Starc has decided to come around the wicket knows that at least one of those yorkers is coming. Doesn't matter if it is 1 or 11 or anyone in between. Are they going to be good enough to keep it out.
JoM
Roar Rookie
So the number 6 has suddenly become a tailender now?
Dane
Guest
What? Is that sarcasm? Or are you suggesting that top order batsmen rather their strike bowler struggle through the oppositions top order but smash through the tail?
paul
Guest
Just ignoring the two hat-tricks for a minute, it was great to see the Australian bowling attack sharing the workload and the wickets. All seemed in pretty good nick and I get the feeling they could ratchet it up a notch or two come the 23rd of November. Hopefully our batsmen will support them.
jamesb
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised if Starc gets a hat-trick in the Ashes.
Junior Coach
Guest
Unbelievable , i had to wait in club cricket until I was 36 and had dropped down the grades to get one, It was a standing joke in my club that I would never get one. Was ON THE HATTY at least 40 times in 25 senior seasons, in fact the match I got it I was on the hatty 4 times and yes it was 9,10,11 in the second dig and no I didnt care who it was. Congrats to Starc and may he do it again in the first test!
Paul D
Roar Guru
Oh rubbish. Any top order batsman will tell you they'd love for the quicks to take their time over the top order but rip the tail out in a rush, rather than the other way around.
Dane
Guest
He picked up 9, 10 and 11, twice in a game? Hazelwood and Cummins did the heavy lifting during that game.
Basil
Guest
To get a hatrick is an achievement. To get 2 in a match is amazing. 6 of his 7 wickets for the match were against tailenders. He seems to be cleaning up the tail well.
spruce moose
Guest
Remarkable. The second hat-trick was great. Both 3 legitimate wickets, and excellent deliveries.